An Adult Protective Services' view of collaboration with Mental Health Services

Measuring the diverse characteristics of county adult protective services programs

Adult protective services (APS) programs vary markedly, yet few studies have quantified this diversity. In 2020, a survey of Ohio's 85 county-administered APS programs incorporated subsequent feedback from staff and described the programs in a systematic manner. This process resulted in a 100% response rate and illustrated an efficient approach to measuring organizational characteristics (e.g., whether any staff are mostly dedicated to APS), resources (e.g., access to multidisciplinary teams), and practices (e.g., how often staff create a plan to meet client goals). The prevalence of many factors differed by the number of older adults the program served. For instance, 75% of programs in large counties had regular opportunities to share complex cases with a multidisciplinary team, compared to 28% of programs in small counties. Understanding the diverse characteristics of APS programs - and how to measure them - can help agencies guide quality improvement efforts and the dissemination of innovations.

Examining attitudes towards mental health treatment and experiences with trauma: Understanding the needs of trauma-exposed middle-aged and older adults

Middle-aged and older adults who have been exposed to traumatic events may have specific developmental needs with respect to engagement in mental health treatment. The current study examined factors that potentially facilitate or inhibit attitudes towards mental health service use (ATMHSU) in a trauma-exposed sample of treatment-seeking adults of age 50 years and older. In this mixed-methods study, quantitative data (N =  165) were analyzed to examine relationships with trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder, quality of life (QOL), and ATMHSU. Semi-structured interviews were conducted assessing similar constructs with a subsample of the data (n = 12). Regression analysis revealed higher QOL-environmental well-being as associated with more positive ATMHSU and higher QOL-social support with more negative ATMHSU. Qualitative themes emerged around perceived distress in managing lifelong traumas due to challenges with functioning, coping, and accessing services. Emphasizing resources to help manage the impact of distress on daily life needs may support aging trauma-exposed populations.